Guangzhou Airport

✅ Verified Review | Security check at Guangzhou airport was slow yet methodical. Immigration was quite smooth although slow. The airport was kept in a clean manner. The toilets were clean. There didn't seem to be any showers or long term rest areas for travellers in transit from long trips say to Europe or the USA. There was ample small trolleys to place your computer and carry on luggage.

We had an international layover through CAN both going to Bangkok and coming home again to New Zealand with China Southern in Dec 2016/Jan 2017. Our first layover was 7 hours, turned into 8 as our first flight was early. This was a pretty horrible experience but not the fault of the airport exactly, although the lack of food options probably contributed to the experience. I ended up with a migraine and tried my best to sleep curled up mostly under a seat while my husband stayed awake watching our bags. The driver of the bus we were put on from the plane to the transfer wing drove in circles and made me car sick, and the smog in China itself may have added to the nausea as it was actually really bad. We brought snacks as I'd read online the food was really expensive, but still ended up buying a very overpriced bottle of water and a very gross tasting tea. The 'free water' is only really free if you already have a bottle, the cups they provide are like paper shot glasses and are completely unusable. The shopping is practically non-existent unless you want to buy cartons of cigarettes or very overpriced Chinese bowls. The WIFI only works with a Chinese SIM, and even then I overhead someone saying Google and most of the contents of the internet are banned, so that renders it pretty non functional anyway. Overall the wing we were in was clean and modern, well lit and well air conditioned. Our second layover coming home was only 2 hours and went by quickly, it was a nice lounge to spend a couple of hours in but I wouldn't do 8 again if I had the choice. I have no idea if our queuing time was normal since it was Christmas day and night time.

✅ Verified Review | Please bear in mind this review is purely based on the transit experience only! China Southern Airlines I have discovered have very tight transit times between connecting flights. Our inbound was from Sydney and our connection was to DEL, transit time 60 mins, seems a lot? Right as you step out of the plane, there are crew yelling about connections, ok it is good you have had a long flight and need to be woken up but sadly it continues. The airlines know their schedules yet they do not cater for the fact that queues will form not due to a fault of passengers but perhaps for a lack of counters and the yelling continues. Though in fairness english is not their first language and signage is sufficient.

❎ Unverified | I had two layovers here. Transit to the international gates was fine and relatively speedy. The queue wasn't very long though. Also be aware that you'll have a long bus ride from the plane to the actual building, they park incredibly far away. Both times probably 15 minutes ride plus waiting time for passengers to leave plane. First layover was in the evening and the building was warm and humid. Shops were open but there is not much to chose from. McDonald's didn't take card! In one wing is a Starbucks which was pricy but at least staff spoke English and they took card. Second layover was at 6am and the temperature in the building was the same as outside. No heating, So we sat in about 10C - everyone who just came from a hot country and was in their summerclothes was shivering and miserable. Wouldn't be surprised if many of them are sick now. Horrible. Wifi connection is good but you won't get without giving away personal detail. Also once in wifi nothing obviously works. There are 'recharging' areas where you lay down. Free hot/cold water available - bring a bottle! If you can handle no heating/AC then it's ok for a layover but if you can avoid the airport I would do so!

Guangzhou is a clean airport, possibly a bit Spartan so far as facilities go compared to such places like Changi or Bangkok. The visa waiver system is not so clear and takes an unneccassry amount of time to process, but we did get through. Departure is much more streamlined and uncomplicated. Good transportation service to the airport.

When doing any trip, you research. I read the reviews of the prices for food and beverage at this airport, so that was no surprise. But I found it to be clean, bathrooms, seating areas etc. It was winter almost and it was heated. Staff were generous with directions. I had a 6 hour in transit wait. Was comfortable even though it was near 12.10am, staff were friendly and helpful.

Large modern airport but had to board a B777 from a bus which is a long climb if you are not too able. Some staff were more helpful than others and there was a bit of a language problem with signage, often a situation at many airports. Avoid the food and beverage if you can, I paid $10.13 for an Americano coffee, prices are in Yuan only. China Southern flights are good value and my four were all on time.

It is not bad at all. All signs are displayed clearly and all facilities are easy to be found and accessed. The Customs is a bit slow but still acceptable. Security checks are fast and efficient. Boarding gates are too far away sometimes and the transit buses are too busy, which made the experience a bit disappointing. In general I feel this is one of the best airports in China.

Had transits totalling 8 hours. Was dreading this given reviews I had seen. It wasn't that bad. Yes the food and drink is limited and it is expensive but in my travels I haven't found too many bargains at any airport. The restrooms are clean and spacious. There is cool and warm water available and the departure area is clean and spacious. Appreciate that there is limited ability to stretch across most seats but there are a few available where this is possible. If you can take Yuan you are probably better off than trying to use credit cards. Coffee is a real killer with prices ranging from AUD $6 to $15. I got a $2 iced coffee out of a vending machine (but this only took notes).

I transited through Guangzhou twice on the following routing - New York - Guangzhou - Beijing, and then Kashgar - Urumqi - Guangzhou - New York. My experience transiting international to domestic was a nightmare. My flight from New York landed at 5.25am, and my flight to Beijing was scheduled for 8am. I barely made it due to a number of bottlenecks that really shouldn't exist in any international airline hub. 1) Landing. Instead of the aircraft taxiing to a jetbridge, we parked at a remote stand and the airport used 3 buses to bring us to the terminal. As I was seated in the back of the plane I was on the third bus of three which meant that we had to wait for every last passenger to leave the aircraft, including those who needed extra assistance in using the rickety stairs to exit the plane - total time standing on the bus waiting for the last passenger to finally board - 15 minutes. 2) Immigration. After reaching the terminal passengers transiting to other international flights were routed through one door, while those of us transiting to domestic flights were sent through the main immigration area. Luckily my flight landed just ahead of 2 or 3 other flights and so there were maybe 50 people ahead of me in the "foreigner" line. In spite of this it took almost 30 minutes to clear immigration. There were only four immigration officials on duty and the airport employee responsible for managing the line kept diverting Chinese passengers to "our" line (in spite of Chinese passengers having automated e-channels and a number of their own immigration officials, and basically zero line). By the time I got to the front of the line there were approx 150 anxious foreigners behind me waiting. Total time spent waiting - 30 minutes (had I been 10 minutes later it likely would have been well over an hour). 3) Baggage. All information I'd read told me I'd need to collect my bags an then recheck them after customs. This appears to no longer be the case but I spent 15 minutes waiting until I asked. - 15 minutes 4) Security. Before transiting to my next flight I had to wait almost 40 minutes in line to get through security. They let one passenger "in" a a time who then has to empty his bag of electronic devices, put it through the machine, get through the metal detector etc. before the next passenger was allowed to start the process. Incredibly inefficient and first class passengers (we assume) kept cutting the line leading to flared tempers with some economy class passengers steadfastly refusing to let first class passengers skip. - 45 minutes. 5). Transiting to domestic section. You are then asked to climb on board a 12 seat buggy that will leave when full for the domestic terminal - 10 minutes 5. The flight information screens are not intuitive at all. I couldn't even find my flight. They are small TV screens that appear to have no methodology as to what they display. I had to ask an attendant to tell me the gate. She did, but then sent me in the wrong direction, wasting around 10 minutes - 10 minutes. Overall the inbound experience was extremely stressful. The outbound experience on the other hand (going from a domestic flight to an international flight) was incredibly fast and smooth. 5 minute wait at immigration, 2 minute wait at security, the international departures area has plenty of signs/screens and the experience was much more like what I have experienced in Hong Kong or Singapore.